Method of making resilient joints



Oct. 13, 1931. c. R. SHORT 1,827,267

` METHOD OF MAKING RESILENT JOINTS Filed Feb. 4, 1927 Ill Patented Oct. 13, .1931

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES R. SHORT, OF

RESEARCH CORIORATION, OF DETROIT,

METHOD F MAKING RESILIENT JOINTS Application led February 4, 1927. Serial No. 165,887.

This invention relates to the construction of rubber spring shackles and the novelty resides in eliminating any rubbing action or friction between the rubber and metal parts,

characteristic of prior constructions. This rubbing action is deleterious to the rubber and wears it away in a short time and when applied to vehicle springs this worn away portion will allow the vehicle body to sway from side to side producing shimmying, i. e., allowing the wheels to move bodily relative to the body of the car. Or when turning, the wheels will take their proper course around the curve but the body will tend to go straight V ahead and the play allowed by the worn` shackle will cause a sway of the body relative to the wheels.

A common trouble with rubber or rubber fabric shackles is the lateral flexibility which 2o affects steering and induces low speed shimmying. Free movement must be provided to accommodate the lengthening of spring but all movement atright angles to the length of the spring should be avoided. It isproposed to confine the rubber in a pocket from which it is prevented from flowing, for in this manner it will resist deflection in one direction while permitting free movement in the desired direction., l y

My invention furthers concerned with an improved method of making rubber bearings, which consists in extruding the rubber in tube form of required dimensions as to outside diameter and size of hole, cutting the tube I to required lengths, placing the sections so made uponl a hollow arbor or tube, which may be cylindrical or polygonal and straight or formed with transverse lcorrugations throughout all or part of its length. A tubular member is then placedover the rubber ring section and contracted by swaging or pressing to the required diameter, the tube at the same time being elongated. The rubber ring will be deformed and tension causing it to practically fill the annulus between the inner core member and the outer or shell member. A small space is allowed between the rubber and the ends of the shells to prevent any rubber-metal rubbing action.

placed under vshown at The outer lor shell member may be further formed by rolling or pressing to form corrugations at right angles to its axis. The purpose of so forming the inner core member and the outer shell being to limit the possible movement of the bearing along its axis while permitting itv to rotate more or less freely according to the compound of rubber used and the degree of compression to which itis subjected by contracting the outer shell.

The rubber portion may also be distorted and placed in tension by expanding the inner core member by means of a taper plug, or by hydraulic means.

My invention is shown in several different forms in the accompanying drawings in which;

Figure 1 is a side view of a portion of an automobile necessary to illustrate my invention.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2, Figure 1, with parts shown in section for purposes of clearer illustration.

Figures 3 and 4 show different stages of the construction of my improved joint.

Figures 5 and 6 show a modified form in different stages of construction.

Figures 7 and 8 show a second modification in two different stages of construction, Figure 8 showing the structure after the swaging has taken place.

Figures 9 and 1() show a third modification in two different stages of construction.

Referring to Figure 1, 1 designates the side bar of the chassis` 2 the spring bracket secured to the chassis 1,l 3 the usual leaf spring and 4 the shackle arms. 5 designates' the shackle bolts which extend through the eye 6 of the bracket or the eye 7 of the spring 3. Surrounding the bolt 5 is an inner shell 8 which is enclosed in an outer shell 9 closely fitting within the eye 6 of the bracket. Between the shells 8 and 9 is a yieldable tubular filler member 10 which may be of any suitable material, but is preferably of rubber, and is slightly spaced from the ends of the shells as i S. The shells 8 and 9 at their ends are in close contact with the shackle arms 4 and are thereby incapable of any transverse movement.

In Figures 3 and 4 the assembly of my novel joint is better shown. The tube of rubber 10 is assembled over the shell 8 and the shorter shell 9 in turn placed over the rubber cylinder 10. By a swaging action the cylinder 9 is deformed or contracted and forced closer to the cylinder 8, causing the yielding material 10 to be compressed and spread and substantially lill in the annulus between the two shells, as shown in Figure 4. The completed joint member is shown in Figure 4 in which the shells 8 and 9 are the same Ilength and in this form is assembled within the shackle as shown in Figure 2.

In the modification in Figures 5 and 6, the inner shell 8 is the same as in previous figures, while 9 indicates an outer shell, the equivalent of the shell 9 in Figure 2. 11 denotes two Wedge members or bushings placed in either end of the shell 9', and 12 is a tube of resilient material, preferably rubber. The

inner shell 8 has a ring 13 triangular in cross v section surrounding its central portion. The bushings 11 are tapered at their inner ends as shown at 14 and by forcing these bushings toward each other the rubber 12 is compressed and caused to spread and fill in the space between the wedges, the shell 8 and its ring 13 as is shown in Figure 6. In the final form of the joint member the rubber is under compression.

In the modification shown in Figures 7 and 8, the inner shell 8 is corrugated or ribbed transversely of its length as shown at 15, while the outer shell 9a is swaged onto the rubber 10 and the lower shell and later formed with the protuberances or corrugations 16 which conform to the corrugations 15 ofthe shell 8. The shell 9a has small inturned flanges 17 at its ends for strengthening purposes and to assist in retaining the rubber, but these flanges are unessential Vand may be omitted. To prevent friction between the rubber and flanges 17 a small space S is allowed therebetween. In the joint member in its final form as shown in Figure 8 the rubber 10 is under compression and closely fills the corrugationsand the space between the shells 8 and 9e.

In the modification shown in Figures 9 and 10, the inner shell 8 has transverse corrugations similar to the corrugations shown in the inner shell in Figures 7 and 8 and the outer shell 9 surrounds the rubber tube 12 as in the previous forms and is swaged on to the inner shell causing the rubber 12 to be compressed and spread and substantially fill the nodes between the corrugations and the space between the shells 8 and 9 as is shown in Figure 10. v

`With the structures as shown in the figures described the arrangement is such as will permit a rotational, a longitudinal or up and down motion Within the limits allowed by the compressed rubber but will resist any transverse movement with reference to the vehicle. This is particularly true of a species wherein the bushings are corrugated, the corrugations tending to prevent any transverse movement of the parts.

The subject matter divided from this application is claimed July 23, 1931, Serial #552,590.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. A method for the manufacture of a resilient joint constituted by two cylinders having the same axis and a tube made of a firmly compressed resilient material, between these two cylinders, which method consists: in introducing the tube of resilient material between the two cylinders, and in modifying the diameter of at least one of the said cylinders for producing a high radial comlression of the tube made of resilient mater1a 2. A method for the manufacture of a resilient joint constituted by two cylinders having the same axis and a tube made of a firmly compressed resilient material, between these two cylinders, which method consists: in introducing the tube of resilient material between the two cylinders, and in reducing the diameter of the outer cylinder for producing a high radial compression of the tube made of resilient material.

3. A method for the manufacture of a resilient joint constituted by two cylinders having the same axis and a tube made of a firmly compressed resilient material, between these two cylinders, which method consists: in introducing the tube of resilient material between the two cylinders, and in reducing, by a drawing out operation the diameter of the outer cylinder for producing a high radial compression of the tube made of resilient material.

In testimony whereof I afx my signature.

CHARLES R. SHORT.

in an application filed 

